It is well known that in the Mahabharata the Cinas appear with the Kiratas among the armies of king Bhagadatta of Pragjyotisa or Assam. In the Sabhaparvan this king is described as surrounded by the Kiratas and the Cinas. In the Bhismaparvan, the corps of Bhagadatta, consisting of the Kirtas and the Cinas of yellow color, appeared like a forest of Karnikaras. It is significant that the Kiratas represented all the people living to the east of India in the estimation of the geographers of the Puranas. Even the dwellers of the islands of the Eastern Archipelago were treated as Kiratas in the Epics. The reference to their wealth of gold, silver, gems, sandal, aloewood, textiles and fabrics clearly demonstrates their association with the regions included in Suvarnadvipa. Thus, the connection of the Kiratas and Cinas is a sure indication of the fact that the Indians came to know of the Chinese through the eastern routes and considered them as an eastern people, having affinities to the Kiras, who were the Indo-Mongoloids, inhabiting the Tibeto-Burman regions and the Himalayan and East Indian territories, the word Kirata being a derivation from kiranti or kirati, the name of a group of people in eastern Nepal.

In early Indian literature China is invariably shown to be connected with India by a land-route across the country of the Kiratas in the mountainous regions of the north. In the Vanaparvan of the Mahabharata the Pandava brothers are said to have crossed the country of the Cinas in course of their trek through the Himalayan territory north of Badri and reached the realm of the Kirata king Subahu. The Cinas are brought into intimate relationship with the Himalayan people (Haimavatas) in the Sabhaparvan also. The land of the Haimavatas is undoubtedly the Himavantappadesa of the Pali texts, which has been identified with Tibet or Nepal. In the Sasanavamsa this region is stated to be Cinarattha. Thus, it is clear that China was known to the Indians as lying across the Himalayas and was accordingly included in the Himalayan territories. In the Nagarjunikonda inscription of Virapurusdatta, China (Cina) is said to be lying in the Himalayas beyond Cilata or Kirata. These references to the proximity of China to the Himalayan regions, inhabited by the Kiratas, show that there were regular routes through the Tibeto-Burman territories, along which the Indians could reach China.

Some such land-route is implied in the remark of the Harsacarita ofBanabhatta that Arjuna conquered the Hemakuta region after passing through Cina. Of course, the route across Central Asia is perhaps alluded to in the itinerary of Carudatta from the Indus Delta to China across the country of the Hunas and the Khasas, described in the Vasudevakindi, and there is probably a reference to the sea-route, passing through Vanga, Takkola and Suvarnadvipa, in the Milindapanho. But there is no doubt that in a large number of ancient Indian texts China is mentioned near the eastern Himalayan regions, through which regular routes, connecting this country with India, passed from fairly early times. It was along these routes that India came into contact with China for the first time and developed commercial relations with her, that are referred to by Chan K'ien in the second century B.C.

In Yunnan there is a large number of old pagodas. Some of them are the oldest and most beautiful in China. Their cornices and corner decoration, showing rows of pitchers (mangala ghata), betray unmistakable Indian influence. Many bricks of these pagodas bear Sanskrit inscriptions, containing Buddhist mantras and formulae in a script, which is identical with that current in Nalanda and Kamarupa in the 9th century. The beautiful bronze statue of Avalokitesvara from the pagoda of Ch'ung Sheng Ssu near Ta-li is an index to the high standard of culture and craftsmanship attained by the Buddhists of Yunan.

In earlier times, the people of the east, Magadha and Videha, were in contact with Yunan, as the traditions of Purvavideha show. The two names, Purvavideha and Gandhara, seem to represent these two successive eastern and western streams of Indian colonial and cultural expansion in this region.

Henry Rudolph Davies (1865 - ) says that Besides Buddhism, Shaivism was also popular in Yunan as is manifest from the prevalence of the cult of Mahakala there. This ancient Indian colony in the south of China was the cradle of Sino-Indian cultural relationship for a long time.

It was an important outpost of Indian cultural expansion along the eastern land-routes, which Colonel Gerolamo Emilio Gerini (1860 -1913) author of Researches on Ptolemy's geography of eastern Asia (further India and Indo-Malay archipelago p. 122 -124 has described as follows:

"During the three or four centuries, preceding the Christian era, we find Indu (Hindu) dynasties established by adventurers, claiming descent from the Kshatriya potentates of northern India, ruling in upper Burma, in Siam and Laos, in Yunnan and Tonkin, and even in most parts of southeastern China. From the Brahmaputra and Manipur to the Tonkin Gulf we can trace a continuous string of petty states, ruled by those scion of the Kshatriya race, using the Sanskrit or Pali language in official documents or inscriptions; building temples and other monuments after the Indu (Hindu) style and employing Brahmana priests for the propitiatory ceremonies, connected with the court and state. Among such Indu (Hindu) monarchies (Theinni) in Burma, of Muang Hang, C'hieng Rung, Muang Khwan and Dasarna (Luang P'hrah Bang) in the Lau country; and of Agranagara (Hanoi) and Campa in Tonkin and Annan."

"The names of peoples and cities, recorded by Ptolemy in that region, however few and imperfectly preserved, are sufficiently significant to prove the presence of the Indu (Hindu) ruling and civilizing element in these countries, undoubtedly not so barbarous as the Chinese would make them appear."

"It is evident through the medium of those barbarians that China received part of her civilization through India."

Among these colonies Tagong and upper Pugan were called Mayura; Prome was Sriksetra; Sen-wi (Theinni) was Sivirastra; Muang Hang, Chieng Rung and Muang Khwan were the three divisions of Ching Rung kingdom, which the prince of Yong, named Sunandakumara, united under Mahiyagananagara; Luang P'hrah Bang was Dasarna; Hanoi was Agranagara; Tagaung was Brahmadesa (P'o-;o-men), where a Sanskrit inscription, dated in Gupta era 108 ­ 426 A.D. refers to Hastinapura, situated in that country; and, of course, Yunana was Purvavideha or Gandhara. Thus, from Arakan, where the Mrohaung inscriptions attest the efflorescence of Indian culture, language and literature, to Yunnan, whose history we have traced above, Indian culture made a triumphant advance in ancient times.

(source: Yün-nan; the link between India and the Yangtze ­ by Henry Rudolph Davies Cambridge University press 1909 an India and The World - By Buddha Prakash p. 141-150).

BHOGANATHAR SIDDHAR is identified as a Tamilian initiated into Jnana Yoga by Siddha Kalangi Nathar. These are his own admissions in ‘Jnana Sagarama’ – Bhogar’s Oceanic Life Story of 557 verses. Kalangi Nathar is controversially said to be a Chinese taken to Shaivite Siddha practice and spiritualism. He is one of the Eighteen Siddhas. Bhogar belonged to goldsmith caste by birth.

KALANGI NATHAR was born in Kasi. He is said to have attained the swarupa Samadhi – immortal Samadhi at the age of 315. He is said to have made China the centre of his spiritual and teaching actitivities. Kalangi Nathar is from the ancient lineage of Nava Nath Sadhus. These sadhus are aligned to Lord Shiva and take to strict Shaivite practice.

There are nine important shrines associated with Nava Nath Sadhus. The main five are in the Himalayan range. The first, Amarnath is said to be where Lord Shiva first taught Kriya Yoga to Parvati. The other spots are Kedarnath, Badrinath, Kailasanath and Pasupatinath.

PALANI HILLS: Bhogar chose Palani Hills or Palani Malai for his spiritual enhancement and final stage of intensive tapas. There he developed the first three stages of Kundalini Yoga which he described in his ‘Kriya Kundalini Pranayama’. Through the grace of Lord Muruga, the eternally young Kumara Swami, Bhogar attained swarupa samadhi.

Thus Kumaraswami Temple in Palani became the epicenter of Bhogar’s activities from where he is said to have travelled astrally to several countries. It was in Palani that Bhogar convened a conference of siddhas. This was in 3102 BC to determine a suitable path forward in the Kali Yuga. The conference chose Bhakti Yoga for the coming period of darkness. Bhogar was assigned the task of defining worship rituals for Palani Andavar of Lord Muruga of Palani.

Bhogar outlined the procedure for the ceremonial bathing of the diety, Abhikeam for Palani Andavar. He also prescribed many sacred substances for abishekam. Panchamirtham is attributed to Bhogar. It consists of consists of five fruits and honey. This is followed till today by Hindus.

Bhogar wanted a temple deity to last throughout the Kali Yuga. Even class granite gave way sometimes. So Bhogar fashioned Nava Pashanam out of nine secret herbal and chemical ingredients with a catalyst. This compound created a substance harder than rock and steel. This is a mystery to scientist till this day.

PALANIANDAVAR TEMPLE: In Tamil Sangam literature, Palani is mentioned as ‘Podhini’. In ‘Thirumurukatruppadai’, Palani is named as the Lord Muruga’s third ‘Padai Veedu’ or sacred sthala. Many siddhas are said to have lived in this region. The deity of Palani is known as Dandayudhapani Swami, the Lord having the Staff in his Hand. Lord Dandayudhapani is in His renunciation form in his loincloth holding a danda in his hand. His message is ‘Renounce all to reach Me’ It is written that Lord u'. Here Lord Murugan of Kurinji land is the God of Beauty and Youth.

The deity at the sanctum sanctorum is unique as it is made out of an amalgam of nine minerals popularly called Navapashanam. This is Bhogar’s findings of herbal compounds being: Veeram, Pooram, Rasam, Jathilingam, Kandagam, Gauri, Vellai, Mridharsingh and Silasat.

SAPTANABDA: Pullippani is Bhogar’s disciple. He is so named as he is believed to have wandered in the forests atop a puli –tiger. Pullipanni quotes Bhogar as authority and is often referred to as abalaka. In his written dialogues, he states that Bhogar proceeded to China to spread the knowledge of siddha sciences. In noting astral travel, Pullipani implies an aircraft in use by Bhogar. These are documented in the Saptakanda. Pullipani took the name Yu when he travelled with Bhogar to China.

BO-YANG: Apparently Kalangi Nathar summoned Bhogar to China telepathically, as he decided to enter into samādhi in seclusion for 3,000 years. Bhogar was to take over Kalangi’s mission there. Some writings suggests a sea travel while others claim Bhogar reached China by astral means. There Kalangi instructed Bhogar in all aspects of the Siddha sciences including ‘kaya kalpa’ herbal formulae to promote longevity. Thereafter Kalangi is said to have entered into trance.

Bhogar is said to have assumed the name of Bo-yang after he took over the satguru’s seat. It is said he transmigrated his vital body into the physical body of a deceased Chinese man and called himself Bo-yang. It took 35 kinds of herbs to prepare ‘kaya kalpa’ formulae. It was tried on a dog, thereafter Bhogar demonstrated swarupa samadhi by taking the herbs-compounds.

BHOGAM: The name Bo-yang is derived from ‘Bhogam’ meaning material and spiritual bliss. It refers to the experience of Kundalini shakti, the feminine primordial ‘Yin’ energy which awakens when it passes up to the crown of the head, the seat of Shiva, the masculine ‘Yang’ pole, in the Sahasra cakra at the summit of the head and unites with it. The result of this integration of feminine and masculine parts of the being, is yoga of Shakti and Shiva, Yin and Yang. This Satchitananda state was unknown in China. Bhogar bring this to light there. But who is Bo-yang really?

LAO TSE: The kaya kalpa formulae that gave Bhogar lustrous body, pranayama techniques and kundalini yoga with Yin and Yang perspectives point to contemporaneously points to another parallel Chinese figure – Lao Tse. There are many writings that Bo-Yang is none other than Lao Tse.

He was the founder of Taoism of the 5th century B.C. He too propounded the theory of duality of matter; Yin and Yang conforming to Siddha Shiva-Shakti doctrine. The latter doctrine was uttered first by Adi-Siddhar, Agasthya Muni around 3500 BC. But alchemy as a science was known to the Chinese only around 135 BC. All Chinese alchemy literature seems to have commenced after Bhigar’s arrival in China and after 135 BC. There was no previous literature about Shiva-Shakti versus Yin and Yang before that also.

Geographically Bo-Yang and Lao-Tes seem to be from the same place. So, the emergence of Lao Tse with his theory of duality of matter or Yin and Yang and Bhogar’s presence in China at that very moment suggests one person in the working. There was another example in Yacob in Arabia who was Siddharishi Sriramadevar from India.

There is another give away. Bhoganathar Siddha is said to have left China around 400 BC. Thereafter there is no record of Lao-Tzu. Before that the said Lao-Tze published ‘Tao Ching’ with 37 verses. This is a book about ‘doing good to him who has done injury’, a replica of the Tamil Siddha, Thiruvalluvar’s works the Thirukkura. This Yoga Siddhanta was unknown to the Chinese except through Bhogar.

BHOGAR SAPTA KANDAM: Upon his return, Bhogar visited several shrines in the Himalayas. He went to Kamarupa, the Assamese Tantric Shakti shrine. With the blessing of Lord Shiva, Bhogar composed Bhogar Sapta Kandam of 700,000 verses, later abridged to 7,000 verses. In the South, he introduced Cina-caram, the Chinese salts and chemistry and porcelain making. He submitted his Bhigar Sapta Kandam to Agastya Muni at Courtrallam. The academy of siddhas endorsed Bhogar’s works.

DISCIPLES: Konkanavar, Karuvoorar, Nandeeswar, Kamala Muni, Satta Muni, Macchamuni, and Sundarandar became his disciples to study the sciences of kaya kalpa and yoga. This teaching mission was continued by Pulipani.

SHRINE: There are various claims as to Bhogar’s shrines. Generally it is believed to be in the Palani Hills. It is south west of the Palaniandavar Temple. Bhogar's body rests here. The image of Nava Durga or Mother Bhuvaneshvari, Shiva Linga in its Maragadha or emerald form worshipped by Bhoghar are found here. There is also a mysterious underground passage that links the sanctum sanctorum with the Bhogar shrine.

I like the broken lines in this photo.. in North America we are taught to live life in the lines,.. in India one moves in circles you never know when you will drive up over the curb or cross the line, go through a red light or turn around in the middle of the street... As a passenger you just don't know!!! We are all passengers in the Divine's plan.. Let Go. ..Go with the flow do not get caught in the corners, tricks or bends in Life.. Flow like a Rive feel a little uncomfortable....

My Musings:

By Trishula Das with over 40 years experience in Eastern Western Mind, Body, Soul Healing....

Including everything from Hypnosis, NLP, Huna, Past Life Regression, Sound Healing.... Including 3 years in Yoga Teacher Training, 7 years constant study of Bhakti Yoga, Indian Philosophy, and Ayurvedic Principles and Shasta

10 years with a well respected Kung Fu Master learning Qigong, Tai Chi,

10 years of Jyotish studies I was never interested in Astrology but Vedic or the Astrology caught me because it is a spiritual practice and I believe if one wants to learn Yoga or Tantra this is the beginning.

6 years 24/7 Baul Tantra. I am a Scholar from inside the tradition. What I have learned is that everything is inside of Baul including Indian Philosophy, Tantra, Vedanta, Bhakti Yoga, Yoga, Ayurveda, all Shastra, The Bhagavad Gita, The Avadhuta Gita, The Upanishads, Gita Govinda, Puranic and Tantric Wisdon, Buddhism and Sufi... Sanskrit because Baul is an oral tradition. They are sacred minstrels, Bards. poets and musicians..